The Fumble

You were nervous. You shifted your weight from one leg to the other as you began to speak.

“Uh, fellows,” you started.

We turned and looked up at you.

“I, uh, I just wanted, uh, to invite . . .”

You were way out of your comfort zone. I had no idea what you might be about to say, but I knew that it had nothing to do with work.

“I just wanted to tell you that, uh, our church is having a service tonight and, uh . . .”

”What?” I couldn’t believe it. “He’s talking church? Out here? With us?”

“I wanted to invite any of you to come along.”

Silence. Screaming silence.

****

Have you been there?

You were uncomfortable and perhaps after your fumbling attempt you thought of what a mess you made of the whole situation. You re-think and analyze what you said and did. You apologize to God for your “failure” at witnessing. You are embarrassed for presenting “church” instead of Jesus.

Wait a minute! God is sovereign and is not hampered by our humanity. God used this man’s apparent failed attempt to invite construction workers to church. Max Lucado was laying pipe that summer and was with the workmen on their lunch break. Five years later, he remembered this man and gave his life over to Christ.

Your efforts may have seemed insignificant or even like they were wasted. God sees the bigger picture, however. You don’t know what God will do. Just be available to Him.

NOTE: The above excerpt is from Max Lucado’s testimony in Chapter Seven of In the Eye of the Storm. Read the entire story online on Google Books.. Search for “Thanks for the Bread” which will take you to the chapter heading.

The Ministry Around You

Recently, I had the incredible privilege of talking to seven people in twenty-four hours about the hope and forgiveness they can find in Jesus Christ!

Each encounter is its own story, so I will try to write them individually in the next week or two. Until then, here’s an overview of the amazing twenty-four hour day.

No Fear

The next time you are fearful about sharing your faith, remember this 92-year-old woman.

The Sower Blogroll

I decided today to add a Blogroll to The Sower. I hope these other sites will be a great resource to you.

I know of a lot more blogs than the three I started with today, but maybe you also know some websites that encourage evangelism or missions. Thank you for adding your suggestions in the comments.

I plan to add a Blogroll to The Sower: Tools and Tips, as well. Those links will be to evangelistic sites while this Blogroll will be more for instruction and encouragement.

Quotes from Tim Keller

We had the privilege of learning from Tim Keller, the pastor of Redeemer Church in Manhattan, as he taught from Luke 10 at a Campus Crusade conference this past July. Tim explained some key elements of the Gospel and how we should carefully communicate God’s message. He encouraged us to go out into the world as Good Messengers and to live in this world as Good Neighbors.

QUOTES:

“Justification means that the only Person in the universe, whose opinion counts, absolutely delights in you.”

“You never are called into a new relationship with God without being radically sent out into the world to live for others. Every Christian man and woman is a man and woman in mission”.

Learn more from Tim in a video interview where he gives insights on urban ministries and also on reaching the poor.

Caring for the Earth … and for People

I glanced at a jade pendant dangling about two feet from my face.

“Your necklace is interesting,” I said as Lindsay tied a latex strap around my arm.

“It is a Japanese good luck charm,” Lindsay said, as she gently tapped my vein.

I found out within a few minutes that this young phlebotomist was a Buddhist.

“That’s obviously your choice,” I commented, looking at her pale skin and blue eyes. “Why did you choose Buddhism?”

“I like the way they respect all of life. That’s also why I went into this work.”

I commended her for wanting to help people and then asked, “Well, did you know that Christianity also teaches us to take care of the earth?”

No,” Lindsay admitted.

I encouraged Lindsay to go to my blog site to watch a YouTube presentation of the Good News. I wrote down the blog address on a piece of paper and then asked, “Will you take some time to investigate what Christianity really is?”

Lindsay assured me that she would.

I left the clinic rejoicing for God’s work in Lindsay’s life.

NOTE: Sending her to the right link was a little complicated, but I have improved this technique. Click here for more ideas about sharing web addresses when witnessing.

Rate The Sower’s Posts

It’s been a very busy twelve months. I hope to be back on a regular schedule for posting.

As I was cleaning up my different websites, I discovered I could add ratings, so please rate any of these posts, so I know what you most enjoy reading.

Thanks for reading the Sower!

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

Meaningful Tweets

John Piper sees Twitter as an opportunity to add something meaningful to the Twittersphere. Read more of his perspective on using Twitter to minister.

Here are a few examples from his Twitter page:

DEALING WITH YOUR SIN: Don’t minimize how many times you’ve failed. But magnify how firmly they’ve been nailed (Col. 2:14).

Through the years I sought peace. I found ecstasy, anguish, madness, loneliness. But peace I did not find. Bertrand Russell

“I have no business to object to the universe as long as I have nothing to offer myself–and we are all bankrupt.” CS Lewis

NOTE: You can also subscribe through RSS feed if you would like to receive his Tweets in your reader.

I have added his Tweets to The Sower sidebar.

Eduardo’s Wife Is Dying

Finally, Eduardo was stepping out to his car. I had been gardening and hoped he would come outside. I ran to get the Magdalena DVD waiting by the front door and rushed across the street.

“This is for your wife,” I explained. “It is in Spanish.”

“Thank you,” he smiled weakly, the gold glistening on his teeth.

Eduardo accepted the DVD and I went on to tell him the movie was about Jesus and about the different women He healed. He thanked me and I concluded our brief conversation with, “We are praying for you.”

I wrote about our neighbors, Eduardo and Luz, before. They are Jehovah’s Witnesses and do not speak English very well. About two years ago, they accepted a “Jesus” DVD from me. (I only recently learned that JWs are not allowed to accept literature, so maybe a DVD or the Who Is He? Mini-CD are the best things to offer them.)

In just over a year, three families near us have faced the loss of a loved one. First, a seven-year-old granddaughter died from a car accident. Soon after that Eugene, a man in his fifties, died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Now, Luz is dying at home and has daily hospice visits. I have been unable to communicate with Eduardo and Luz, but I have noticed her housekeeper has a Christian radio station bumper sticker on her car. I hope she has explained the Gospel to them and will also pray that Luz will be able to watch the Magdalena DVD and accept God’s free gift of life eternal or that God will miraculously heal her for His glory and to lead many of her family and JW friends to Christ!

This is also a reminder to all of us that we may not have more time to share with the people in our lives.

More help for reaching Jehovah’s Witnesses.